Holidays in Abu Dhabi

Well hello everyone. First I want to express heartfelt thanks to all of you who had such sweet, encouraging things to say about my blog. I am so glad you found it enjoyable. I love the connection I feel with all of you who are so far away... but always in my thoughts.

I did receive some suggestions - mainly more photos! I hear you. I like pictures too and promise to take many more and post lots and lots of them. Even my scintillating prose can't show you all the things I see around here. Also, some of you have never seen my husband Connie and in fact doubt that he even exits. Fair enough. You'll see him today.

When last I left you we were madly preparing for Thanksgiving. It was a scramble especially since I spent the 24 hours before in Dubai. I made the dishes that I could ahead of time and prepped the others so they could be put together at the last minute. Some of you know that I have done a pot luck style Thanksgiving before but remember that most of my guests were not American and in the end I simply must have cornbread dressing, sweet potatoes, and gravy just the way I like them. So even if guests bring things I end up cooking a full meal anyway.

When the first guests arrived I was still stirring gravy in the kitchen but everything else was ready to go. The guests dined on the terrace under canopies surrounded by large potted plants and lighted by morrocan lanterns. It was very atmospheric. We had about five children of all ages running around. Robert soon had everyone armed to the teeth with guns, swords and light sabers so battle waged around us on every floor. At some point I realized I had not changed out of my monkey slippers and had been entertaining my guests in them all evening. Oh well.

There was plenty of food, wine, music and company. The last guests departed well after midnight. That's the kind of Thanksgiving I like.

So, holidays in Abu Dhabi. Right now we are celebrating National Day. This is the 36th anniversary of when the United Arab Emirates became a country in their own right. Before this they were known at the Trucial States, a British Protectorate. There are seven Emirates: Abu Dhabi (the capital), Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Um Al Qawain. I have been to or through most of them. Robert is actually in Fujairah this weekend, camping and snorkeling with his boy scout troop.

The town is lit up and people are driving around with flags on their cars and honking. We get a couple days off work. Also, the month of Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) is coming up and there will be a holiday (Eid) at the end of that.

What is different from my last time here is that apparently it is the new thing to decorate and advertise for Christmas. There are tacky ornaments and cheesy carols at nearly all the stores and hotels now. It's not terribly sincere. I almost prefer it the old way where we just made do with what we could find. Oh well.

Enough blah-blah for now. I must give the peeps what they want: photos!




Did I tell you my neighbor has camels? Well he does!







This is Connie and Robert at Lookout Mountain last summer. We did "See Rock City".





Look closely. There is a cow in the back.





Must always end with "cute cats nappin" photo.


You are always on my mind! Talk to you soon.